Apparatus for marking articles



July 7, 1964 R. o. TERRY, JR

APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29, 1961INVENTOR ,QA YMO/VO 0. TL /a0); JR.

ATTORNEY y 7, 1964 R. o. TERRY, JR 3,139,817

APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed March 29, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR EA YM0/v0 0. 775?? Y, we

ATTORNEY July 7, 1964 R, o. TERRY, JR

APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nka rch 29, 1961 mT e m J W Y, 2 P m lh 0 0 N F W mm wm m M h QQ I R Y & m B VA n m. H E ma 8 .3 mo m m9 m9 3 Q9 98 a: $9 a: 3 v m9 Q3 0 9 \ww w9 w9 ll mm b\\ RhRh ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 7, 1964 o. TERRY, JR

APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Filed March 29, 1961 United States Patent3,139,817 APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES Raymond 0. Terry, J11,Winston-Salem, N.C., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated,a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 99,125 11Claims. (Cl. 101-37} This invention relates to apparatus for markingarticles, and more particularly to a marking mechanism having facilitiesfor intermittently driving a marking roller at various operating speeds.

In the manufacture of electrical components such as deposited carbonresistors, it is necessary to mark the completed product to indicate theimportant electrical characteristics thereof. With the most recentautomated deposited carbon resistor fabricating facilities, it is necessary to provide automatic printing devices that are compatible in speedand cooperative in action with these facilities for marking greatnumbers of resistors with proper identifying indicia.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved device formarking articles.

Another object of this invention is to provide an indexing mechanism fordriving an article printing device.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improvedplanetary gear driven printing mechanism for applying certain indicia toelectrical components.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision offacilities for operating at various speeds a planetary gear mechanismthat drives an offset printing device.

A still further object of this invention resides in a printing mechanismhaving facilities for varying the input speed to a planetary gearmechanism that drives an offset transfer roller.

An additional object of this invention resides in a planetary gearmechanism for driving a printing device wherein certain planetary gearelements are locked during a dwell in the advancement of an indexingmechanism that is provided for driving the planetary gear mechanism.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention contemplatesan ink supply source and a mark-impressing mechanism mounted on oppositesides of a carrier plate that suppports an inking roller and a transferroller. A planetary gear mechanism is intermittently driven by atransmission at a first speed to advance the carrier plate. Advancementof the carrier plate advances the rollers relative to the ink source andthe mark-impression mechanism for applying an inked impression to thetransfer roller and aligning the transfer roller With an article to bemarked. The carrier plate conditions electrical control facilities thatactuate the transmission for driving the planetary gear mechanism at asecond speed. Operation of the planetary gear mechanism at a secondspeed rotates the transfer roller for marking the article.

A complete understanding of this invention may be had by referring tothe following detailed description and the accompanying drawingsillustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an article conveyor and pushrodfor supplying articles to be marked to a cradle that supports thearticles in a position to be printed by a printing device according tothe principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing aplanetary gear mechanism for carrying and actuating printing elements ofthe printing device;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectioned side elevational View of the printingdevice shown in FIG. 1 showing an intermittently driven transmissionactuated by a control circuit for driving the planetary gear mechanismat various speeds;

Patented July 7, 1964 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the controlcircuit showing switches actuated by the printing device elements forcontrolling the planetary gear mechaism and the transmission; and

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the transmission shown in FIG. 3showing a motor rotating an indexing mechanism for intermittentlydriving the transmission.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown an apertured carrier10 advanced by a cyclically indexed pair of belts 11 to move an article,such as a cylindrical deposited carbon resistor 12, toward a pushrod 13.The pushrod 13 cooperates with the conveyor 11 to remove the resistor 12from the carrier 10 and advances it vertically toward a printing ormarking device 14 that is supported on a base 15. Upon elevation of theresistor 12 by the pushrod 13, a cam 19 thereon actuates a microswitch20 that is secured to the base 15. A pneumatic cylinder 21 is actuatedby the closing of the microswitch. 20 to pivot a bell crank 22 about apin 23 in a counterclockwise direction thereby raising a group of fourcradle rollers 24 that are attached to the bell crank 22. As the cradlerollers 24 are moved past the pushrod 13, the resistor 12 thereon istransferred to the rollers and subsequently carried to a printingstation beneath the printing device 14.

While the resistor rests on the rollers at the printing station, theprinting device 14 actuates printing or transfer rollers 29 for markingthe resistor. The printing device 14 includes a source 30 oftransferable material, such as ink, which is provided in a reservoir 31in which an inking cylinder 32 is rotated. Means well known in the art,such as a doctor blade, not shown, for controlling the amount of inktransferred to the inking cylinder, may also be provided. The printingdevice 14 also includes type 35 supported by a mark impressing mechanism36 that is oppositely disposed from the inking cylinder 32. A planetarygear mechanism, generally indicated by the reference numeral 37,supports and advances ink conveying rollers 38 from the inking cylinder32 to the type 35 and also supports and advances the transfer rollers 29from the type 35 to the resistor 12 positioned at the printing station.

Referring to FIG. 2, the planetary gear mechanism 37 includes a shaft 41that is indexed at a plurality of different speeds. The shaft 41 issupported for rotation relative to the base 15 on journals 42 and 43. Asun gear 44 is keyed to the shaft 41 for rotation therewith. Rollerbearings 45 mounted on the shaft 41 to the left of the sun gear 44support a carrier plate 48 for rotation relative to the shaft 41. A pairof retaining discs 49 maintain the carrier plate 48 at a fixed axialposition on the shaft 41. A plurality of stub shafts 53 are rotatablymounted in bearings fitted in apertures 54 provided in the carrier plate48. As shown in FIG. 1., three of the stub shafts 53 support the inkconveying rollers 38, and three of the shafts 53 support the transferrollers 29. Referring again to FIG. 2, the rollers 29 and 38 are shownfixedly mounted to one end of the stub shafts 53. A trio of planetarygears 52 is keyed to the other end of each of the stub shafts 53 of theconveying rollers 38 and each engages the ring gear 56. -A second trioof planetary gears 55 is keyed to the other end of each of the stubshafts 53 of the transfer rollers 29 and each engages the sun gear 44.Each of the planetary gears 55 also engages gear teeth provided on theinternal periphery of a ring gear 56 that is rotatably mounted on theshaft 41 between the sun gear 44 and the journal 42.

The carrier plate 48 and the ring gear 56 each are provided with threeapertures 57 and 58, respectively, spaced at into which locking pins 61and 62 are respectively advanced. The locking pins 61 and 62 are mountedon a common bracket 63 that is vertically advanced by a piston rod 69(shown in FIG. 2). The piston rod 69 is slidably mounted in a pneumaticcylinder 64 that is fixed a support 65. A singled-pole, doublethrowswitch 66, having an actuator 68 positioned to cooperate with thebracket 63, is fixed to the pneumatic cylinder 64. The cylinder 64 isactuated during a dwell in the rotation of the intermittently drivenshaft 41 at which time the ring gear 56 and the carrier plate 48 arestationary. When the ring gear 56 and the carrier plate 48 arestationary, the pins 61 and 62 may be freely moved relative to theapertures by downward advancement of the bracket 63 upon actuation ofthe pneumatic cylinder 64. Downward advancement of the bracket 63removes the pin 62 from the aperture 58 of the ring gear 56, advancesthe pin 61into the aperture 57 of the carrier plate 48, and permitsmovement of the actuator 68 to close one pole of theswitch 66. Removalof the pin 62 from the aperture 53 unlocks the ring gear 56 whereas thepin 61 moving into the aperture 57 locks the carrier plate 48 againstrotation. Upward movement of the bracket 63 unlocks the carrier plate48, locks the ring gear 56 against rotation, and permits the actuator 68to reverse its position to close the other pole of the switch 66.

When unlocked, the carrier plate 43 is rotated by the interaction of thesun gear 44, the ring gear 56, and the planetary gears 55. One of a trioof cams 7 spaced at 120 (see FIG. 1) mounted on the carrier plate 48 isadvanced during rotation of the carrier plate to actuate a switch 71.Rotation of the carrier plate 48 also advances the ink conveying rollers38 and the transfer rollers 29 in a circular path past the inkingcylinder 32 and the type 35. As the rollers 29 and 38 move in thecircular path, they are rotated on their respective axes by theinteraction of planetary gears 55 with the ring gear 56.

When the carrier plate 48 is locked by the pin 61 and the ring gear 56is released by the pin 62, the sun gear 44 rotates the ring gear 56through the planetary gears 55 whereby the printing rollers 29 and inkconveying rollers 38 are not moved in the circular path, but are rotatedwith respect to the carrier plate 48 on a fixed axis. Rotation of thering gear 56 advances earns 74 carried thereby into engagement with acontact arm 75 for actuating a switch 76.

During a printing cycle, the carrier plate 48 is locked in a fixedposition with one of the transfer rollers 29 in alignment with aresistor 12 located by the cradle rollers 24 at the printing station.The locked carrier plate 48 also positions one of the ink conveyingrollers 38 in alignment with the inking cylinder 32. The drive shaft 41is indexed and rotates the ring gear 56 through the sun gear 44 and theplanetary gears 55. Rotation of the ring gear 56 rotates the aligned inkconveying roller 38 whereby that roller receives ink from the cylinder32. The aligned transfer roller 29 is rotated through only onerevolution so that a clear impression is transferred to the resistor 12.

The drive shaft 41 then dwells and the bracket 63 is advanced to reversethe locking pins 61 and 62. The drive shaft 41 is then indexed anddrives the planetary gear mechanism 37 in a non-printing or idlingcycle.

During the idling cycle, the ring gear 56 is locked in a fixed positionand the carrier plate 48 advances the rollers 29 and 38 in the arcuatepath defined by the ring gear. Each ink conveying roller 38 is mountedon the carrier plate 48 so that the peripheral surface thereof wouldnormally engage a resistor 12 supported by the cradle rollers 24 at theprinting station. The control circuits shown in FIG. 4 preclude suchengagement by pivoting the cradle 24 to move the resistor 12 from thepath of each of the ink conveying rollers 28 after the printing cycle iscompleted.

Each of the transfer rollers 29 is mounted on the carrier plate 48 sothat a printing portion 79 of the surface of the roller engages theresistor 12 during the printing cycle. The transfer rollers 29 areprovided with cutouts 36 which are insufiicient in height to engage theinking cylinder 32 during the idling cycle. As the carrier plate 48advances a transfer roller 29 in the circular path above referred to,the planetary gear 55 rotates the roller on its axis so that the cutout89, rather than the printing portion 79, is oppositely disposed from theinking cylinder 32. In this manner, the transfer roller 29 does notengage the inking cylinder.

During each idling cycle, an'ink-conveying roller 38 is advanced intorolling engagement with the type 35 to apply a coating of inkthereto asthe roller advances through a 120 degree arcuate path from a position Ato a position B, shown in FIG. 1. Also during each idling cycle, atransfer roller 29 is advanced through a similar 120-degree arcuate pathfrom position C to position D. During this advancement the transferroller moves into rolling engagement with the type 35 that was inkedduring a previous idling cycle.

Thus the shaft 41 must be rotated first, during the printing cycle at aspeed that will rotate the transfer rollers 29 through only onerevolution on their axes to mark a resistor 12. The ink conveyingrollers 38 will be rotated through something greater than one revolutionto receive ink. Secondly, the shaft 41 must be rotated during the idlingcycle at a faster speed so that the rollers 38 and 29 are advanced 120degrees, such as from positions A and'C to positions B and D,respectively. A multi-speed indexing drive 82 is provided for thispurpose.

Referringto FIG. 3, the multi-speeddrive 32 includes a motor S3'drivinga shaft 84 on which apair of cams 87 and 88 (FIG. 5) is fixed. Rotationof the shaft 84 drives the cams 87 and 855 for actuating respectiveswitches 89 and 911 in sequence. The shaft 84 also rotates a crank arm92 of an indexing mechanism 93. Continuous rotation of the arm 92intermittently rotates a star wheel 94 that is connected through bevelgears to a shaft 95. A cam 96 keyed to the shaft 95, periodicallyactuates a switch 97. The shaft intermittently rotates a multispeedtransmission 98. Gears 101 and 106 provided in the transmission 93 arekeyed to the shaft 95 for driving respective gears 1112 and 163 that areeach fixed to similar annular-shaped clutch drums 1114 and 1115. Rollerbearings 1118 are maintained in spaced relationship by sleeves 1119 andsupport the clutch drums 104 and 105 for rotation on the shaft 41.Retaining rings 1111, provided in grooves 111 formed in the clutch drums104 and 165, abut the bearings 16% for preventing the clutch drums frommoving axially with respect to shaft 41. Electromagnetic coils 115 and116, provided in the clutch drums 164 and 165, respectively, areactuated alternately through slip rings 117 provided on the outerperiphery of the clutch drums. Energization of the left magnetic coil115 draws a clutch plate 121 to the left into driving engagement with afriction surface 121 provided on the right face of the left clutch drum164. A key member 122 that is fixed to the shaft 41 is thereby rotatedby the left clutch drum 164 through the clutch plate 126 and through aflexible diaphragm 123 that connects the key 122 to the clutch plate121?. Similarly, energization of the right magnetic coil 116 draws theclutch plate to the right into driving engagement with a frictionsurface 128 provided on the left face of the right clutch drum 105 forcompleting a driving connection from the gear 101 to the shaft 41.Depending upon which of the magnetic coils is energized, the shaft 95will either drive the shaft 41 through the gears 161 and 162 at one gearratio, 4.15 to 1, for example, or through the gears 111i and 193 at adifferent gear ratio, 3.11 to 1, for example. In this manner the shaft41 will be intermittently rotated for driving the planetary gearmechanism 37 at either of the two speeds.

v To commence operation of the apparatus a contact (FIG. 4) of a switch126 is closed for completing a circuit from a positive battery and aconductor 133 through the motor 83 to ground. The motor 83 is therebyenergized for driving the indexing mechanism 93. A description of theoperation of the apparatus may begin when the printing device 14 is inthe idling cycle. At this time the ring gear 56 is locked and thecarrier plate 48 is free to rotate. The indexing mechanism 93 isrotating the multi-speed transmission 98 which is controlled by the leftmagnetic coil 115 for driving the planetary gear mechanism 37 at the4.15 to 1 gear ratio. The planetary gear mechanism 37 is rotating thecarrier plate 48. As a resistor 12 is elevated by the pushrod 13, thecam 19 on the pushrod closes a contact 130 of the switch 20 (FIG. 4).During elevation of the resistor 12 the carrier piate 48 advances one ofthe printing rollers 29 toward its printing position D in verticalalignment with the resistor 12 that is positioned on the pushrod 13. Theindexing drive 93 then dwells whereby the carrier plate 48 stops withthe printing roller 29 located at position D. The cam 70 is therebypositioned by the carrier plate 43 for actuating the switch 71 to closea contact 131. The cam 96 mounted on the shaft 95, that is now in adwell position, actuates the switch 97 to close a contact 132. Closureof the contact 132 completes a circuit from the conductor 133 throughthe closed contacts 130, 131, and 132, and through a solenoid coil 136to ground. Actuation of the solenoid coil 136 advances a pneumaticcontrol valve 137 to the right for supplying air pressure from areservoir 138 to the cylinder 21. Admission of air pressure to thecylinder 21 rotates the bell crank 22 whereby the resistor 12 will beremoved from the pushrod 13 and advanced by the rollers 24 to theprinting station.

Closure of contacts 130 and 131 also completes a circuit from theconductor 133 through a time delay relay 140 to ground. Actuation of thetime delay relay immediately closes a contact 141. The drive shaft 84,which is continuously rotating, then advances the cam 87 into engagementwith the switch 89 for closing a contact 142 to complete a circuitthrough the closed contacts 130 and 131, through the now closed contact142, through a solenoid coil 143, and through the now closed time delayrelay contact 141 to ground. Actuation of the solenoid coil 143 slides apneumatic control valve 144 to the left for supplying pneumatic pressureto the upper end of the pneumatic cylinder 64. The piston 69 and thusthe bracket 63 are thereby advanced downwardly to unlock the ring gear56 and lock the carrier plate 48. The actuator 68 of the switch 66 isthereby moved to position a contact arm 147 against a contact 160 forcompleting a circuit from the conductor 133 through the contact 147 andthrough the right clutch coil 116 to ground. Actuation of the right coil116 will thereby draw to the right the clutch plate 120 to effect adriving engagement between the indexing shaft 95 and the shaft 41.

The indexing mechanism 93 then rotates the shaft 95 whereby the shaft 41will be rotated at the slower speed for rotating the transfer roller 29one revolution to mark the resistor 12. When the transfer roller 29 hasrotated through a complete revolution, the indexing mechanism 93 dwells.The cam 96, mounted on the shaft 95, is now positioned for opening thecontact 132 whereby the solenoid coil 136 will be deenergized and thepneumatic valve 137 reversed. The pneumatic cylinder 21 will be therebyactuated to lower the cradle rollers 24 and place the marked resistor 12on the pushrod 13.

One of the cams 74 is positioned during the dwell by the ring gear 56 toclose a contact 1541 of the switch 76 whereby a circuit will becompleted from the conductor 133 through the contact 150 and through asecond time delay relay 151 to ground. Actuation of the time delay relayimmediately closes a contact 152. The shaft 84 then positions the cam 88for actuating the switch 99 to close a contact 153 whereby a circuitwill be completed through the contact 1511, through a solenoid coil 156,through the now closed time delay relay contact 152, and through theclosed contact 153 to ground. Actuation of the solenoid coil 156advances the pneumatic valve 144 to the right whereby air pressure willbe supplied from the reservoir 138 to the lower end of the cylinder 64.The piston 69 and thus the bracket 63 will be advanced upwardly tounlock the carrier plate 48, lock the ring gear 56, and reverse theposition of or advance the contact arm 14-7 into engagement with acontact 148 of the switch 66. Engagement of the contact 148 by thecontact arm 147 completes a circuit from the conductor 133 through thecontact 148, through the left clutch coil 115, to ground. Actuation ofthe left clutch coil advances the clutch plate 129 to the left to effecta driving connection between the shaft 95 and the shaft 41.

The idling cycle then starts when the indexing mechanism 93 indexes torotate the shaft 41 at the faster speed for advancing the ink-conveyingand transfer rollers 38 and 29 through the degree arcuate path referredto above. The circuit is now conditioned for another cycle of operation,which will be initiated by another advance of the push rod 13.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangement of apparatusand construction of elemental parts are simply illustrative of theapplication of the principles of this invention. Numerous otherarrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art whichwill embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spiritand scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In an article marking mechanism, drive means having a unitary outputand facilities for changing the speed of said unitary output, marktransfer means having a marking impression thereon, means driven by saidunitary output operating at a first speed for advancing said marktransfer means to an article, means rendered effective by said advancingmeans for actuating said facilities to change the speed of said unitaryoutput, and means rendered effective by said unitary output operating ata second speed for actuating said transfer means to apply saidimpression to said article.

2. In a mechanism for marking an article, marking means having a markingimpression thereon, means for advancing said marking means intoalignment with said article, a two-speed gearing means operating at afirst output speed for driving said advancing means, means renderedeffective by said advancing means for reducing the output of saidtwo-speed gearing means to a slower speed, and means driven by saidgearing means at said slower speed for rendering said marking meanseffective to mark an article.

3. In a marking mechanism, transfer means having a mark impressiontheeron, intermittent drive means, unitary means driven by said drivemeans in successive drive and dwell operations means operated by saidunitary means in a first drive operation for advancing said transfermeans into ali nment with an article, means rendered effective duringsaid dwell operation by said advancing means for locking said advancingmeans, and means rendered effective by said locking means and actuatedduring the next successive drive operation by said unitary means fordriving said transfer means to apply said impression to said article.

4. In a marking mechanism, a two speed gearing means, roller meanshaving a marking impression thereon planetary gearing, means driven bysaid two speed gearing means operating at a first output speed foradvancing said roller means into alignment with an article, meansrendered effective by advancement of said roller means into alignmentwith said article for actuating said two speed gearing means to reducethe output speed of said gearing means, and planetary gearing meansdriven by said two speed gearing means operating at the reduced speedfor rotating said roller means to apply said impression to said article.

5. In a printing device, means having a marking impression thereon forapplying said impression to an article, first drive means, a pluralityof meshing pairs of gears driven by said first drive means, second drivemeans, means for selectively connecting one of said pairs of gears tosaid second drive means to operate said second drive means at a firstspeed, means driven by said second drive means operating at said firstspeed for advancing said applying means from said impressing means to anarticle, means actuated by said advancing means for rendering saidselecting means effective to connect another of said pairs of gears tosaid second drive means whereby said second drive means is operated at asecond speed, and means actuated by said second drive means operating atsaid second speed for rendering said applying means effective to marksaid article.

6. In a marking mechanism, mark transfer means having a markingimpression thereon, a shaft, first and second driven gears looselymounted on the shaft, means for alternately connecting said gears tosaid shaft to alternately rotate said shaft at different speeds, meansdriven at a first speed by said shaft for advancing said transfer meansinto alignment with an article, means actuated by said advancing meansfor interrupting operation of said advancing means, means actuated bysaid interrupting means for reversing said connecting means to rotatesaid shaft at a second speed, means driven by rotation of said shaft atsaid second speed for actuating said transfer means to apply saidimpression to said article, and means rendered effective by saidactuating means for reversing said interrupting and connecting means.

7. In a printing device, mark impressing means, means having a markingimpression thereon for applying said impression to an article, a firstdriven shaft, a plurality of meshing pairs of gears driven by said firstshaft, a second drive shaft, clutch means for selectively connecting oneof said pairs of gears to said second shaft to operate said second driveshaft at a first speed, means driven by said second drive shaftoperating at said first speed for advancing said applying means intoalignment with an article, means actuated by said advancing means forrendering said clutch means effective to connect another of said pairsof gears to said second drive shaft whereby said second drive shaft isoperated at a second speed, and means driven by said second drive shaftoperating at said second speed for rendering said applying meanseffective to mark said article.

8. In a printing device having planetary gear means including a carrierplate, a shaft mounted for rotation on said carrier plate, a planetarygear keyed to said shaft, a sun gear in meshing engagement with saidplanetary gear, a ring gear engaged to said planetary gear, a transferroller having an impression thereon keyed to said shaft, and means foralternately locking said carrier plate and said ring gear againstrotation, the combination with said planetary gear means of multi-speedgearing means connected to said sun gear and conditioned for operationat a first speed by said locking means for advancing said carrier plateto position said transfer roller in alignment with an article, meansactuated by the advancement of said carrier plate for reversing saidlocking means to lock said carrier plate and to unlock said ring gear,means actuated by said locking means reversing for conditioning saidgearing means for operation at a second speed, and

means for driving said-conditioned gearing means to rotate said ringgear whereby said roller is rendered effective to print said article.

9. In a marking mechanism, mark transfer means having a markingimpression thereon, a shaft, first and second intermittently rotatedgears loosely mounted on the shaft, means for alternately connectingsaid gears to said shaft to alternately rotate said shaft at differentspeeds, means driven at a first speed by said shaft for advancing saidtransfer means to an article, means rendered effective by said shaftdwelling for interrupting operation of said advancing means, meansactuated by said interrupting means for reversing said connecting meansto rotate said shaft at a second speed, means driven by rotation of saidshaft at said second speed for actuating said transfer means to applysaid impression to said article, and means rendered effective by saidactuating means for reversing said interrupting and connecting means.

10. In a printing device having planetary gear means including a carrierplate, a shaft mounted for rotation on said carrier plate, a planetarygear keyed to said shaft, a sun gear in meshing engagement with saidplanetary gear, and a ring gear engaged to said planetary gear, atransfer roller having an impression thereon keyed to said shaft, meansfor alternately locking said carrier plate and said ring gear againstrotation, the combination with said planetary gear means of a variablespeed transmission connected to said sun gear and conditioned foroperation at a first speed by said locking means, indexing means forrotating said transmission to advance said carrier plate and saidtransfer roller, means rendered effective by said indexing meansdwelling to position said roller in alignment with an article forreversing said locking means to lock said carrier plate and to unlocksaid ring gear, means actuated by said locking means reversing forconditioning said transmission for operation at a second speed, andmeans for driving said indexing means to rotate said ring gear wherebysaid roller is rendered effective to print said article.

11. In a marking mechanism, a transfer roller having a mark impressionthereon, normally ineffective means for rotating said roller to mark anarticle, continuous drive means including a rotating crank arm, meansfor advancing the roller to said article, intermittent means including astar wheel driven by said continuous drive means for driving theadvancing means and the rotating means to dwell and position said rollerat said article, means actuated by the continuous drive means upon saiddwell for locking said advancing means and rendering said rotating meanseffective, and means actuated by said effective rotating means upon saiddwell for reversing said locking means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,437,224 Emerson Mar. 2, 1948 2,542,063 Tenety Feb. 20, 1951 2,603,149Mann July 15, 1952 2,623,452 Emerson Dec. 30, 1952 3,045,588 Jordon etal July 24, 1962

1. IN AN ARTICLE MARKING MECHANISM, DRIVE MEANS HAVING A UNITARY OUTPUTAND FACILITIES FOR CHANGING THE SPEED OF SAID UNITARY OUTPUT, MARKTRANSFER MEANS HAVING A MARKING IMPRESSION THEREOF, MEANS DRIVEN BY SAIDUNITARY OUTPUT OPERATING AT A FIRST SPEED FOR ADVANCING SAID MARKTRANSFER MEANS TO AN ARTICLE, MEANS RENDERED EFFECTIVE BY SAID ADVANCINGMEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID FACILITIES TO CHANGE THE SPEED OF SAID UNITARYOUTPUT, AND MEANS RENDERED EFFECTIVE BY SAID UNITARY OUTPUT OPERATING ATA SECOND SPEED